The Somerset Levels that is! Written for the combination famously used by Schubert in "Shepherd on the Rock", this set of songs are taken from the collection "Folk Songs from Somerset" published in 1904 by Cecil Sharp. The first, Bridgwater Fair, is a traditional setting. The second, The Drowned Lover keeps the original melody and words but the harmonies are much more devoped. The third, The Witch of Wookie Hole uses two folk melodies but the words are my own and tell of a Somerset legend.

Bridgwater Fair - Cecil Sharpe heard this sung by William Bailey of Cannington and Henry Tindall of Wedmore, and is similar to many folk tunes heard around the country with the words adapted to suit the locality. The folk of the local villages of Stowey, Stogursey, Cannington and Fiddington are off to the fair but the unreasonable request of the curmudgeonly narrator is that Master John ignores the real delights of the fair - something that no self-respecting young lad is likely to even consider.
View sample	Difficulty
	Moderate
Listen to recording - 2m 20s
The Drowned Lover - This sad lament, mourning the death of a sailor discovered washed up on the beach by his lover, was recorded by Cecil Sharp in Bridgwater. Sung by Mr James Bale who comes from a sea-faring family of many generations, the song mostly likely originates from the battle of Sole Bay (rather than Stokes Bay).
View sample	Difficulty
	Moderate
Listen to recording - 3m 30s
The Witch of Wookey Hole - There is a tale that a mysteriously shaped Stalagmite in the caves at Wookey is really the remains of a Witch who came to a bad end. This story tells of how it might have happened. The music combines the melodies of "Blow Away the Morning Dew" (heard in Hambridge and Compton Martin), and "Just as he Tide was a-flowing" (from Curry Rivel).
View sample	Difficulty
	Moderate
Listen to recording - 4m 13s
Love on the Levels - Complete	To purchase the score and parts, click the Buy Now Button. On completion of purchase you must click Return to Merchant. This will take to the page containing the music. Please save the page and print at your leisure. Score and Parts - $16.00

Written for the combination famously used by Schubert in "Shepherd on the Rock", this set of Three Runcible Songs use the "Nonsense" verses of Edward Lear. Light hearted in nature and may be sung in any order or individually. The three pieces were composed for The Millfield Trio and you can find them on Facebook

Dingle Bank bemoans the fate of some mythical Liverpool school children. It should be played as fast as the Soprano feels her diction can survive, and performed with a comical attitude.
View sample	Difficulty
	Moderate
Listen to recording - 1m 52s
The Owl and the Pussy-cat is a famous childrens' poem, told to generations of English youngsters. This is a slow lyrical piece but needs flexiblilty and a touch of humour to perfect. Don't be afraid to play around with the tempos.
View sample	Difficulty
	Moderate, but with a hard clarinet section
Listen to recording - 3m 54s
Calico Pie is truly "Nonsense", with Calico Jam and a Syllabub Sea and features a Willeby-Wat and birds who sing "Tilly-Loo", but don't worry - they never come back!
View sample	Difficulty
	Moderate
Listen to recording - 2m 55s
Performances are by MOSAIC (formerly The Millfield Trio) for whom this set of songs were written. They are based in Wells in Somerset - Maria Marton (soprano), Mark Tromans (clarinet/sax) and Nicola Bracey (piano)
Three Runcible Songs - Complete	To purchase the score and parts, click the Buy Now Button. On completion of purchase you must click Return to Merchant. This will take to the page containing the music. Please save the page and print at your leisure. Score and Parts - $16.00

"Shepherd on the Rock" this is not, but written for the same combination. If you feel the need for a less "classical" piece in your concert programme this might well fit the bill. A song of unrequited love with a slight rocky feel and a decorative clarinet part. It could be sung by a small unison choir although but there is also a version (without the clarinet) for 3 part female/boys choir with piano.

View sample	Difficulty	To purchase the score and parts, click the Buy Now Button. On completion of purchase you must click Return to Merchant. This will take to the page containing the music. Please save the page and print at your leisure. Score and Parts - $9.00
	Moderate
Listen to recording - 3m 47s

The American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote this poem in 1863 at the age of 56, and the seemingly cheerful festive title masks a much darker poem. With the American civil war in full spate and his eldest son fighting in the conflict, the nature of this carol is hardly celebratory although, if we believe the final verse, Longfellow's faith seems to remain intact.

View sample	Difficulty	To purchase the score and parts, click the Buy Now Button. On completion of purchase you must click Return to Merchant. This will take to the page containing the music. Please save the page and print at your leisure. Score and Parts - $6.00
	Moderate
Listen to MP3 - 3m 33s

Written for the combination famously used by Schubert in "Shepherd on the Rock", this new setting of the Holly and the Ivy is mostly light in character, gives opportunities for showing off and is full of the Christmas spirit.

View sample	Difficulty	To purchase the score and parts, click the Buy Now Button. On completion of purchase you must click Return to Merchant. This will take to the page containing the music. Please save the page and print at your leisure. Score and Parts - $6.00
	Moderate
Listen to MP3 - 3m 46s

A Christmas Lullaby for Soprano, Clarinet and Piano. William Blake's poem is full of mystery and expectation. Its simplicity and rhyming pattern might lead to a very regular rhythm but I have chosen a different route where the words direct the music in free fashion. Do not be afraid to be flexible with the tempo. Blakes ""Cradle Song" is also available for SATB unaccompanied choir, and for Brass Quintet.

View sample	Difficulty	To purchase the score and parts, click the Buy Now Button. On completion of purchase you must click Return to Merchant. This will take to the page containing the music. Please save the page and print at your leisure. Score and Parts - $6.00
	Moderate
Listen to MP3 - 4m 09s